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Some songs' meanings need no explanation. When a song contains approximately three words that repeat over and over, we can usually assume we get the gist. Any deep meanings are usually only accessed through playing the song backwards, and take the form of subliminal messages directing the listener(s) to commit complex evil tasks. (Do not play "Call Me Maybe" backwards. Or forwards.)

Said like a professor holding a pipe: rap songs, with their lyric-heavy nature, can (emphasis on can) sit on the opposite side of the spectrum--They can harbor multiple meanings, which may prompt us to geekily search the Internet for some kind of clue

Rap Genius can satiate the curiosity that leads us to conduct those sad Internet searches:

Find a song by looking up the artist, song title, or lyrics
View the song lyrics, and click on specific lyrics to view an annotation about their meaning
You can rate the annotation (thumbs up or thumbs down), and you can even suggest an improvement to the annotation
Annotations are often verified by actual rappers. Supposedly
And, of course, if you create an account, you can add an entirely new song with your own annotations, therefore making you a "rap genius"--The thing you always wanted to be

Rap Genius has yet to add a "subliminal messages" section, so until then, listen to thoughtful music to prevent pop music-induced psychosis

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Historical context: Historical context.

An explanation of the overall story (e.g. "In this song, Eminem corresponds with a crazed fan who...")

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.